Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) flight tones: Frequency, harmonicity, spherical spreading, and phase relationships

Abstract

Mosquito flight produces a tone as a side effect of wing movement; this tone is also a communication signal that is frequency-modulated during courtship. Recordings of tones produced by tethered flying male and female Aedes aegypti were undertaken using pairs of pressure-gradient microphones above and below, ahead and behind, and to the left and right over a range of distances. Fundamental frequencies were close to those previously reported, although amplitudes were lower. The male fundamental frequency was higher than that of the female and males modulated it over a wider range. Analysis of harmonics shows that the first six partials were nearly always within 1 Hz of integer multiples of the fundamental, even when the fundamental was being modulated. Along the front-back axis, amplitude attenuated as a function of distance raised to the power 2.3. Front and back recordings were out of phase, as were above and below, while left and right were in phase.Recordings from ahead and behind showed quadratic phase coupling, while others did not. Finally, two methods are presented for separating simultaneous flight tones in a single recording and enhancing their frequency resolution. Implications for mosquito behavior are discussed.

“Singing in the Tube”—audiovisual assay of plant oil repellent activity against mosquitoes (Culex pipiens)

“…Sexual recognition has been described as a principal factor regulating wing beat frequency in Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, and Toxorhynchites mosquitoes (Babu et al 2011, Dong-Kyu 2006, Gibson and Russell 2006, Pennetier et al 2010, Robert 2009). In some species, male-female pairs converge on a shared higher order harmonic of their fundamental frequencies, e.g., Culex, Anopheles, and Aedes , Warren et al 2009), whereas in other species, they converge on the same wing beat frequency, e.g., Toxorhynchites (Arthur et al 2014). The convergence on shared higher order harmonics was ascribed to male-female fundamental wing beat frequencies that are too far apart to find a common frequency compatible with flight (Arthur et al 2014).…”

“…In some species, male-female pairs converge on a shared higher order harmonic of their fundamental frequencies, e.g., Culex, Anopheles, and Aedes , Warren et al 2009), whereas in other species, they converge on the same wing beat frequency, e.g., Toxorhynchites (Arthur et al 2014). The convergence on shared higher order harmonics was ascribed to male-female fundamental wing beat frequencies that are too far apart to find a common frequency compatible with flight (Arthur et al 2014).…”

Optical remote sensing for monitoring flying mosquitoes, gender identification and discussion on species identification

“…For mosquitoes, the wing beat frequency ranges from 100 to 1000 Hz [48, 59–61]. The wing beat frequency is known to be an efficient and reliable means to differentiate insects [57–59].…”

Frequency-based detection of female Aedes mosquito using surface acoustic wave technology: Early prevention of dengue fever

“…aegypti and Ae. albopictus fall within the range of 400−500 Hz in females and 700−900 Hz in males [12,13].…”